Connecting device



March 4, 1924. 1,485,862

. S; T. LESTER CONNECTING DEVICE Filed March 14. 1923 H- H I g Jim NIH i1 I Z a Q i I l l H H I N :2 U II Patented Mar. 4; 192

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STEPHEN 'r. LESTER, or EAST BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA.

CONNECTING DEVICE.

Application filed Maren 14, 192s.- Serial No. 624,991.

In bringing in oil wells it sometimes hap I pens that the well catches on fire or that the oil commences to flow violently from the well in the form ofa gusher and to seal the well and control the flow of gas or oil therefrom is impossible by the ordinary means.

An object of this invention is to provide a device which may be readily engaged with the well casing for sealing or temporarily shutting ofl the flow of oil or gas which device may be connected to suitable pipe lines for withdrawing oil or gas from the well without the necessity of first removing the sealing means.

Another object of this invention is to provide an emergency device for controlling oil wells which maybe coupled with the well casing by directly forcing the device on to the-end of the casing.

Another object of this invention is to provide'a device for controlling oil wells which may be forcibly engaged with the well casing' and which may thereafter be connected to a pipe line and which device'is provided with valve controlling means for sealing the oil well prior to the connection of the pipe line, but which valve control means may be operated to permit the flow of gas or oil through the pipe line withoutremoving the emergency device. 1

Another object of this invention is to provide an emergency Well-controlling device withupwardly directed slips which may be forced in engagement with a well casing and whichare slotted to.permit an adjustment of the slips to fit the diameter of the well casing and which slips are mounted on a tapered portion of a pipe connection so that after'applying the device to. a well casing a movement of the tapered portion of the pipe connection may efl'ect a wedging of the sli s against the wellcasing to further-insure t e sealing of the casing and gripping of the device to the well casing.

"Various other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description of the accompanying drawings which illustratea preferred embodiment of the invention in which Figure 1 is a vertical elevation of this em- .bodirnent of the invention;

Fig. '2 is a vertical section ofFig. 1 with y the pipe connection broken away to contract the view-and with the device inserted into the well casing.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2. f I

. Figs. 4- to 6 embodiment of the invention, in which I if ..4is a vertical elevation of this invention sectioned to disclose the slip engagement with the well casing.

inclusive illustrate a second Fig. 5 is an elevation of the slip member.

Fig. 6 is a'plan view of Fig. 5;

In the drawings 1 generally indicates a well casing such as commonly extends from the well pit. 2' indicates a pipe section which terminates in a threaded tapered portion 3 which is of less diameter at the end of the pipe connection. The pipe connection 2 is provided with a valve 4cf0'r holding oil or gas and the upperend is formed with threads 5 to which apipe line (not shown) may be connected. 6 indicates a slip member which'is tubular in form and provided on its outer verticalcylindrical surface with Y upwardly directed circular teeth'7, the peaks of which teeth are directed sufficiently in an upward direction so that the slips may be ueadily forced. inside a'casing or pipe but will grip the pipe and prevent the removal therefrom. The inner bore 8' of the slip member 6 is conically threaded to vfit-the threads on the tapered portion 3 of the pipe 1 connection 2 and the slip member 6 is formed with a plurality of slits 9 which extend vertically from the bottom of the member upwardly but preferably are not extended to the upper end of themember so as to maintain the member in inte :11 form. Preferably slits 10 are also provi ed in staggered, relation to the slits 9, said slits 10 extending from the upper end of the member substantially vertically downward.

Said slits 10 terminate considerable'distance' 4 from the, lower end of the slip member so that the pipe connection 2 may prevent communieation casing by over COllSlClElFnOrG overla D the interior of the -ng the slits 1O wl leav- W ing ends for adjustment of the-demo 11 indicates a plurality of bumper. is connected to the bottom of the slip r 6 which joined together eh' rm of conical bumper or guide-for the vice. 12 indicates a quantity of suitable W covers the slip'teeth 7. Various materials may be used but'rubber is preferred for this purpose. Said materials aid in sealing or packing the slip member 6 into the well casing 1.

I When applying the device to a well casing the slips 6 are screwed onto the tapered portion 3 of the member 2 until said portion '2 extends from the lower end of.the

slits; 10. The valve 4 is opened and the deviceis forced into the" well casing to 'engage the slip member 6 therewith. The arms 11 aid in guiding the member inside the casing and the slits 9 and 10 permit a contracting of the slip member so that the same may be readily forced into the casing. Since ,the slip member 6 does not properly seal the pipe Connection 2 to the casin 1, the pipe connection 2 may be screwed into the slip member and the tapering of the por-' 0 tion 3 will expand the member 6 forcing the teeth into the casing and effectively sealing the casing to the slip member. A pipe line may then be connected to the threads 5 and the oil or gas withdrawn'from the well with out the necessity of removing the slip member'fi therefrom. i i The wellmaybe held from flowing the necessary'time to secure pipe connections for carrying away the oil orgas which may be coupledto the device without removing the same and while the flow of oil or gas is fully shut ofi'. The slits Stand 10 in the bottom and top of the slip member 6 adapt themember to fit readily into the well casing by contacting said member, which may be later expanded through screwing the pipe connection 2 downwardly through the threads of the member 6.

Referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings the invention is illustrated in a modified form in which the construction and.

ameter' at the lower end of the pipe connec- 6% tion; The pipe connection 2? is provided with a valve 4 for holding oil or gas and the upper end is formed" with threads 5 to which a pipe line (not shown) may be connected. 6 indicates a slip member which O5 is tubular in form and provided on its inner it material which ,portion 3 of the pipe connec onq2 s vertical cylindrical surface directed circular teeth 7 the pee teeth are directed sufiiciently direction so that the slips fo ed over the exterior of a ell. oi, 9e, but will grip the pipe and p the removal therefrom. The exteri face 8 of the slip member 6 is tapered threaded to fit the threads on he tape at the slip member 6 is formed rality of slits 9* which extend VQIblCc from below the lower end of the-circular teeth 7? upwardly but preferably not ex tended to the upper end of the slip member 6 so as to maintain said member 6 in integral form. Preferably slits 10 are also provided in staggered relation to the slits 9, said slits 10 extending from the upper end of the slip member substantially vertically downward. Q v Said slits 10 terminate a considerable distance from the lower end of the threaded portion 8 of the slip member 6 so that the pipe connection 2 will prevent com' munication between the atmosphere and the interior of the well casing by overlapping such-slits 10*while said pipe connection 2 is'still in position to permit further adjustment of the device. Below thethreaded portion 8 of the slip member 6 said member is expanded in the form of a bell as indicated at 11'; which bell formation thereof acts as a guide when ap lying the device to the' well casing. 12 in icates'a quantity of suitable pliant material which covers the slip teeth 7. Rubber is to be preferred for said material which aids in sealing or packing the slip member 6 into the well casin 1. 1 i

en applying the device to a well casing the slip member 6 is screwed on to the tapered portion 3" of the member2 until such tapered portion 3 extends over the lower end of the slits 10*. -The valve 4? is opened and the device isforced on to the well casing 1 to engage the slip member 6 therewith. The bell formation 11* aids in guiding said member over the casing 1 and the slits 9 and 10 permit an expansion of the slip member so that the same may beeasily forced on to thecasing. Since the sli ,memher 6 will not then normally seal t epipe connection 2 to the casing 1 the pipe connection 2 may be screwed over the slip memher and the tapering of the portion 3 will contract themember 6 forcing the teeth into the casing 1 and effectively sealing the casing to theslip member. The valve 4t may then be closed and the pipe connected to the threads 5 and thevalve 4: openedand oil or gas withdrawn from the well without the necessity of removing the emeriicI is applied to an emergency well controlling device, th invention may have other uses and it isiintended to cover the invention ii;- respective of the use to which it is put.

Various changes maybe made in the details of construction of the device herein illustrated which device is illustrated as a practical example of the invention. The invention is not limited to the example shown but'may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. This invention is of the scope set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a pipe section, terminating in a tapered portion, of a member adapted to fit over said taperedportion and having upwardly directed slips disposed on its outer surface, said member being'slit from the lower end upwardly to provide for adjustment of the member in engaging the well casing.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pipe section terminating in a tapered portion, of a member ha-vin a screw engagement with said tapered portion and having upwardly directed slips disposed on its outer vertical surface, said member being slit at the top and bottom to permit adjustment thereof in engaging the well casing.

3. In a device of the classdescribed, the combination with a pipe section and valve control means for said pipe section, of slips mounted by said pipe section slit to contract in engaging a well casing.

4. In an emergency well controlling device, the combination with a pipe section having a lower threaded tapered portion, of valve control means for said pipe section, and a slip member threaded on said lower threaded portion of said pipe section, said member being slit to permit adjustment thereof in enga ing a well casing, and bumper arms joinec l to said slip member for guiding the device in engagement with said well casing.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pipe section terminating in a tapered portion and valve control means for said pipe section, of a slip member threaded on said tapered portion providing upwardly directed wedging teeth, said slip member being slit at the upper and lower ends to permit adjustment thereof, bumper arms for guiding said slip member in engagement with a well casing, and pliant material surrounding said upwardly directed teeth for packing the same in the well casin Signed at Los- Angeles, California, this 9th day of March, 1923.

srnrnnnr. LESTER. 

